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Indie 101 is new iF column focusing on the joys, pitfalls and education of making independent films.

Many readers of iF MAGAZINE are aware that on April 24, 2009, writer/director Andrew Robinson, a survivor of the Columbine school shootings tragedy, will unveil his semi-autobiographical feature film, APRIL SHOWERS. With the cooperation of school systems, concerned students and politicians nationwide, APRIL SHOWERS has been steadfast in its campaign to End School Violence. In addition, 50% of all first-week proceeds from theatrical screenings of APRIL SHOWERS (100% of the producers’ share) are set to be donated to schools within each screening's local area. As one of the aforementioned entities have stated, "This is a film that needs to be seen by every of-age school student, parent and teacher in this country."

To stay true to our targeted audience, there is no sex in APRIL SHOWERS. Nor is there cursing nor on-screen graphic violence. This film has been shot and cut with a PG-13 in mind, based on the MPAA’s stated, though fairly impossible to comprehend, standards. Much like the most effective of films of this nature, the violence is implied, heard through sounds, seen in shadow. The film is a responsible look at a tragic epidemic. That said, we are discouraged, but unbowed at the Motion Picture Association of America's questionable decision to rate this film an "R" due to its 'intensity.' An "R" rating will prohibit a large portion of this film's major demographic - our school-aged students -- from viewing the work and engaging, in their classrooms, in frank, honest dialogue that this project so strongly seeks to cultivate.

And that is the gist of this diatribe. It’s very simple to initiate a war of words against the MPAA. It’s almost a daily occurrence. As filmmakers, we could appeal the rating, but would then need to postpone our release. This is not practical for several reasons, none of which warrant getting into here. The decision has been made to reluctantly accept the hand that has been dealt, and possibly re-edit the film later on for a special school release.

While a film such as PEARL HARBOR, a fictionalized 'action' film (a weak defense of the MPAA) earns a 'PG-13' despite intense scenes of violence, and the fact-based HOTEL RWANDA and WORLD TRADE CENTER garner PG-13 ratings despite their graphic images APRIL SHOWERS is granted the same rating, an "R," as BORAT (genitals in the mouth, shown in close-up), THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY ("franks and beans" anyone?), and, among numerous others, DAWN OF THE DEAD (remake), FRIDAY THE 13^th and TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE. Most of the above films I’ve enjoyed to varying degrees; I am a regular reader of this website, attend Comic-Con every year, have been reading FANGORIA forever and am working on a feature bio about the creator of EC Comics. Yet, for an honest view of a real-life tragedy, how can one compare? This is, simply, wrong.

I’m of two minds re: the MPAA ratings system. On the one side, I applaud the effort to safeguard our kids. On the other, as a filmmaker -- especially when so many studio horror films of late are rated PG-13 -- is there a double-standard at work here?

The present PG-13 framework encompasses a range of advisories, most I which I believe to be appropriate:

* intense and emotional content

* some disturbing images

* mature thematic material

* mature thematic elements

* some sexual reference

* intense sequences involving teens

I know. I know. The MPAA has been criticized for years. I’m not new to the party. I fail to realize, however, the difference in a film of this nature, and HOTEL RWANDA, FREEDOM WRITERS, WORLD TRADE CENTER and the like. Note that HOTEL RWANDA and FREEDOM WRITERS, incidentally, both made the Year's Top Ten list of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and WORLD TRADE CENTER was rated A-II by the CCB, or recommended for adults and adolescents.

So, we find ourselves in the position to stay positive, and we need your support. Our goal is not to engage in a war. Our goal, that we cannot veer from, is to encourage students, teachers, parents and the rest of our audience to view this film with the intent of confronting the epidemic of school violence head-on, and engaging in discussion that will curtail future incidents. We cannot lose sight of this. We need you.

In our opinion, APRIL SHOWERS is a necessary film. An important film. An accurate document of a growing epidemic - school violence. As most U.S. schools will not support an "R"-rated film, regardless of content, a strong case could be made that the MPAA is inadvertently opening the door to further violence IF WE ALLOW IT.

I am a former special education school teacher with over a decade of experience, having witnessed both acts of extreme violence and suicide attempts. I can firmly state that we are now finally armed with a tool - this film - that we never had before. The difference between this film and other similarly-themed projects is that APRIL SHOWERS has been written and directed by a survivor -- whose lofty mission is to give back and eradicate this epidemic once and for all. How? By promoting open dialogue and education among students, educators and parents without insulting their intelligence, the very opposite of the MPAA's misguided approach.

There have been several dozen school shootings around the world in just the year APRIL SHOWERS began production, including Virginia Tech. In fact, this month marks the 10th Anniversary of the Columbine tragedy. The time to confront the issue is now.

Please read Andrew Robinson’s open letter regarding the issue by clicking here. Then, if you have the inclination, please post a note on the site with your thoughts, and talk to anyone who you feel may benefit from either this film, or this dialogue.

 

 

Joel Eisenberg is executive producer of APRIL SHOWERS (www.aprilshowersmovie.com) and president of ALL CITIES MEDIA (www.allcitiesmedia.org). He will serve as a rotating writer of this column.

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